Inside the Star

Misinformation blamed in Ontario cancer patient’s attempt to get treatment in Manitoba

Ontario’s Health Minister Deb Matthews blames paperwork errors as the reason Ontario residents and their doctors have hit roadblocks trying to access medical care in other provinces, but says the problem is “fixed.”

Wes Bland said he was “stunned” by Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews' news that paperwork errors were to blame for roadblocks in being able to get cancer treatment in Manitoba. His wife Nancy described it as “blatant incompetence,” and neglect.

Matthews addressed the issue after the Toronto Star reported the story of Wes Bland, a Kenora, Ont., resident who was forced to drive six hours to Thunder Bay for a cancer test he could have received at a Winnipeg hospital, about two hours from his home.

“It was unfortunate that patients got caught up in this,” Matthews told the Star. “It appears that the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority sent out notices to physicians with information that wasn’t accurate,” including references to outdated forms and containing incorrect contact details and instructions on how and when doctors should seek prior approval for tests, she said.

Bland said he was “stunned” by the news. His wife Nancy, 46, described it as “blatant incompetence,” and neglect.

“How many people’s lives have been endangered, or worse, because of communication issues?” she said.

Ontario and Manitoba have a billing agreement that allows for northern Ontario residents to cross the border to receive insured medical services at no extra cost.

Bland, 59, needed a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to reveal if the shadow on his lung, which his doctors identified as cancer, has spread.

Winnipeg Health inaccurately indicated “that all Ontario patients require prior approval from Ontario before a PET scan can be rendered in Manitoba,” Ontario’s Health Ministry said. A contact number provided was for patients seeking information about uninsured PET scans, which must be done in Ontario, they said.

Matthews said “bottom line,” if northern Ontario residents are eligible to have the test in Ontario “they are eligible to have it in Manitoba as well, without travelling.”

Manitoba Health confirmed in an email it is talking with Ontario about the issue but insisted that Ontario patients must still seek pre-approval for out-of-province procedures.

The agency said it “hopes any confusion over paperwork,” could be resolved through direct communication between doctors and health care providers, a Manitoba Health spokesperson said.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said it could not provide a response until Friday.

Dr. Helmut Unruh, a Winnipeg-based thoracic surgeon involved in Bland’s care, said by email that his office received a directive in August “that they would no longer be doing PET scans on Ontario patients without pre-approval.”

In Bland’s case, they filled out the suggested form, faxed it, then after waiting had to call to find out the fax number his office was given wasn’t working, he said.

“I can understand the frustrations of the patients,” that decisions or mistakes made by people who are not their doctors could negatively impact their care, said Unruh.

The problem was not isolated to Bland.

New Democrat Sarah MP Campbell (Kenora—Rainy River) told the Star her office has received more than 10 complaints in the past month from people who have received mixed messages about receiving cancer care in Manitoba.

Matthews’ office got wind that doctors were receiving faulty information on Oct. 8 and contacted Manitoba Health the next day to ask them to “rectify,” the situation. Manitoba Health was unaware of the existence of the letter, said Matthews, adding if there are other issues that need to be resolved, her office is “absolutely prepared,” to deal with them.

On Friday, Bland will hand-deliver the results of his PET scan to his doctors in Winnipeg.

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